Free things to do · Maui · United States
7 free things to do in Maui
Maui without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Boydsk2000, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 2 days in Maui without paying an entry fee: Road to Hāna, Kāʻanapali Beach and Black Rock, Honolua Bay and Hoʻokipa Beach Park are all free. Stay in Kīhei and rent a condo with a kitchen to save on both rooms and meals.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 7
- Low-cost extras
- 6
- Cost level
- Very expensive
- Lowest hotel prices
- May and September–October
Free sights and experiences
Experience · East Maui
1.Road to Hāna
Leave by 7am, fill the tank in Pāʻia, pull over to let locals pass, and never park in or walk along the narrow road.
- Time needed
- Full day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Nature
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Beach · Kāʻanapali
2.Kāʻanapali Beach and Black Rock
Snorkel Black Rock in the morning when the water is calmer, then come back for the sunset ceremony.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Couples
- After dark
Nature · Kapalua and Nāpili
3.Honolua Bay
Enter from the rocky shore carefully, and only snorkel when the water is flat; skip it after heavy rain, when visibility drops.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Active
- Outdoors
Beach · Pāʻia and the North Shore
4.Hoʻokipa Beach Park
Watch from the lookout or the beach rather than swimming; keep a respectful distance from resting turtles.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Photo spot
- Kids
Waterfront · Wailea
5.Wailea Beach Path
Walk it at sunrise before the heat, or at sunset with a drink at one of the resort bars at the end.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Couples
- Views
- Outdoors
Neighbourhood · Pāʻia and the North Shore
6.Pāʻia town
Stop for breakfast and fuel here at dawn on your way to Hāna, or come back in the evening for dinner.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
Nature · Kīhei
7.Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge
Visit early in the morning for birds and cooler air; the boardwalk is on North Kīhei Road.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes–1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Nature
- Kids
- Off the beaten path
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| East Maui | Road to Hāna | Full day |
| Kāʻanapali | Kāʻanapali Beach and Black Rock | Half a day |
| Kapalua and Nāpili | Honolua Bay | 2–3 hours |
| Pāʻia and the North Shore | Hoʻokipa Beach Park and Pāʻia town | 1 hour + 1–2 hours |
| Wailea | Wailea Beach Path | 1 hour |
| Kīhei | Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge | 45 minutes–1 hour |
Worth a small ticket
Viewpoint · Haleakalā National Park
Haleakalā summit sunrise
Bring warm layers, a hat and gloves; if you miss sunrise, sunset and stargazing at the summit are equally striking and need no reservation.
- Time needed
- Half a day including the drive
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Views
- Nature
- Photo spot
- Couples
Beach · Hāna
Waiʻānapanapa State Park
Walk the coastal trail south from the beach for sea arches and fewer people.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Nature
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Nature · Haleakalā National Park
Keoneheʻeheʻe (Sliding Sands) Trail
Start in the morning, carry plenty of water and sun protection, and turn back while you still have energy for the climb.
- Time needed
- 3–5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Active
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Views
Nature · Kīpahulu
Pīpīwai Trail and Waimoku Falls
Allow 2–3 hours, wear shoes that can get muddy, and check flash-flood warnings; streams rise quickly in heavy rain.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Active
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Beach · Wailea
Mākena Big Beach (Oneloa)
Body-surf only if you are experienced; on rough days, enjoy it from the sand and swim at the calmer Wailea beaches.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Photo spot
- Couples
- Outdoors
Experience · Upcountry (Makawao and Kula)
Upcountry farms and ʻUlupalakua
Combine it with a Haleakalā sunset rather than sunrise, so you drive the farm roads in daylight.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Views
- Couples
- Off the beaten path
More ways to save
- Stay in Kīhei and rent a condo with a kitchen to save on both rooms and meals.
- Beaches, Hoʻokipa's turtles, the Wailea Beach Path and Keālia Pond are free; whales are often visible from shore.
- Travel in April–May or September–October for lower rates and car hire prices.
- Check resort fees and parking charges, which can add substantially to Kāʻanapali and Wailea rates.
- Buy poke, fruit and snacks at supermarkets rather than resort shops.
- A Haleakalā entry fee covers three days, including the Kīpahulu district near Hāna.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Maui expensive to visit?
Maui is very expensive for most visitors, but 7 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Maui?
Road to Hāna: Leave by 7am, fill the tank in Pāʻia, pull over to let locals pass, and never park in or walk along the narrow road.